A Michigan woman, Tammy Sandoval of Mt. Morris, was handed a prison sentence for her involvement in a fatal hit-and-run that took the life of a 3-year-old boy and severely injured his mother and twin sister in Livonia, as reported by CBS News Detroit. Sandoval, aged 55, received a sentence of five to 15 years for operating a vehicle while her license was suspended, causing death. Concurrently, she will serve three to five years for causing serious injury under the same charge.
The sentencing occurred yesterday in Wayne County, where the courtroom heard from emotional victim impact statements. According to an account by WXYZ, Tia Robinson, the mother, sustained a traumatic brain injury during the incident, while her daughter, Khloe, grapples with the emotional aftermath of the crash. Regina Robinson, Tia's mother, expressed in court that "Khloe, she wakes up at night crying 'I want my mom,' 'I want my brother' and I don't know what to say to her. I just hold her and let her know there's nothing I can do."
The tragedy unfolded near Merriman Road as the family was leaving the annual Livonia Spree festival. Sandoval failed to remain at the scene, leading to her being tracked down more than 70 miles away in Genesee County. She had a history of license suspension, causing concern regarding her continued driving privileges. In the wake of the crash, Sandoval expressed that the event was a "non-intentional incident that occurred," per her statement obtained by ClickOnDetroit.
